Inflatable ball



2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

E. I. MANLEY. INFLATABLE BALL.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model) E.. 1; MANLEY. INFLATABLE BALL.

Patented Sept. 21, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDXVARD I. MANLEY, OF CI-IICOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE OVERMAN IVIIEEL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND HARTFORD,

CONNECTICUT.

INFLATABLE BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,421, dated September 21, 1897.

Application filed April 6, 1896. Serial No. 586,425. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LEDWARD I. MANLEY, of Chicopee Falls, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new Improvement in Inflatable Balls; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-- Figure 1, a plan view of a foot-ball constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a view of the ball in transverse section on a line a b of Fig. 1, but showing the cover after it is fully laced; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the ball on the line 0 d of Fig. 1, but showing the cover before the opening therein is closed; Fig. 4, a plan view of the ball after it is fully laced and showing how the inflation-tube is folded down under the edges of the cover. Figs. 5 and 6 are detached views of the supplemental flaps; Fig. 7, a view of the ball in longitudinal section, showing the supplemental flaps closed together preparatory to the inflation of the bladder, the inflation-tube of which is extended outward through the supplemental flaps and through the opening formed in the cover for the insertion and removal of the bladder. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the bladder inflated, the inflation-tube thereof folded down upon the supplemental flaps, and the opening in the cover closed.

My invention relates to an improvement in inflatable balls--such as footballs, striking bags, &c.-the object being to facilitate their inflation, to lessen the liability of injury to the bladder during that operation, and to improve their symmetry when inflated.

lVith these ends in view my invention conthe ball case or cover B within the opening B formed therein for the removal of the bladder C, which is furnished with an inflationtube Cand which, as Well as the case or cover, may be of any approved construction. The said flaps combine with the cover to form a pocket or space E for the reception of the said inflation-tube, the opening B, before mentioned, leading into the said pocket or space. The said pocket also receives the lacing-needle or other instrument employed for completing the closure of the ball case or cover and prevents the said needle or tool from puncturing or otherwise injuring the bladder. Midway of the length of the inner or adjacent edges of the closure-flaps and at opposite points therein they are formed with semicircular notches A A which combine to form a circular clearance-opening, through which the inflation-tube C of the bladder projects outward. The opening B, before mentioned, is produced in the usual manner by terminating the stitches b b of the case B at the points I) b and forming lacing-holes b in the unstitched portions of the edges of the case, the said holes receiving a lacing D. The inner edges of the closure-flaps A and A are also formed with lacing-holes a, which receive a lacing D.

After the bladder has been inserted into the case the closure-flaps are laced and the lacing permanently secured, for it is not afterward disturbed in the use of the ball. It will be understood, however, that the inflation-tube extends outward through the closure-flaps, as shown in Fig. 3. The bladder is then inflated to full pressure through the inflation-tube. The said tube is now closed bya choke-valve or in any other well-known manner and folded down in the pocket or space B and upon the outer faces of the closure-flaps, after which the opening B, leading into the said pocket, is closed by drawing the perforated edges of the case or cover together by means of the lacing D, as shown in Fig. 2. It may be remarked that the closure-flaps may be easily and perfectly laced, inasmuch as at the time they are laced there is no pressure on the bladder, while the closing of the opening in the case is very readily effected, as there is ro'o no direct pressure upon the unstitched and perforated edges of the cover and as they have only the inflation-tube to hold in place.

In foot-balls as ordinarily constructed and without supplemental closure-flaps the closing of the opening in the cover has to be done after the bladder has been inflated, and the tendency of the bladder to protrude through the opening hinders the operation of lacing it up and also makes the puncture of the bladder by means of the lacing-needle an occurrence of frequent happening. It is also difficult to push the inflation-tube through the cover after the opening therein has been partially laced up. On account of the hampering conditions under which the cover of an ordinary ball is laced after the bladder has been blown up the ball is very liable to be unsymmetrical in shape about the lacing. My invention avoids that difliculty and always secures a perfectly symmetrical ball, other conditions being favorable.

It is apparent that in carrying out my invention some changes from the construction herein shown and described may be made. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact form setforth, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I am aware, however that a ball-cover having supplemental flaps located near the openin g through which the bladder is inserted and removed is old, and I do not claim such construction broadly.

Having fully described my invention, what reception of a lacing by means of which the opening is closed after the introduction of the bladder into the ball, and two supplemental closure-flaps located within, the said opening, secured by their outer edges to the inner face of the said cover, and having their adjacent inner edges formed with notches to permit the in flation-tube of the bladder to pass outward between them into the pocket formed between them and the cover and provided with lacing-holes for the reception of a lacing by means of which the said flaps are drawn close together after which the inflation-tube is tucked into the said pocket, and the opening in the cover closed over it and laced up and whereby the bladder may be firmly secured in place prior to its inflation and prior to the closure ofthe opening in the case or cover.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD I. MAN'LEY.

Vitnesses:

EDW. (3. TOIE, CHARLES E. XV. WooDwAm). 

